Another dry month with only nine days with measurable rainfall; as a result the sand-dune water-table fell by 12 cm. National data show it was the 5th warmest May on record, thanks largely to unusually warm nights. In our region, only 50-70% of average rainfall fell during the spring months of March to May. As...

Following on from an exceptionally dry March, the spring drought continued with only five days of measureable rainfall in April and none after 12th. By the end of the month even the TV weather presenters were acknowledging that “gardeners would appreciate some rain.”  You might well ask why farmers, growers, the water supply industry and the natural environment did not merit similar concerns! The Met. Office acknowledged “a run of dry Aprils in recent years.” In fact, this weather pattern extends back to 2000, as I have repeatedly pointed out in these notes.  Cold dry nights meant awful breeding conditions for Natterjack Toads. I heard one call briefly at Hightown on 27th and that was it.